Foot massager



C. HANSEN FOOT MASSAGER July 22, 195-2 2 Sl'lEETS-Sl-IEET l Filed March 2l, 1951 N E S S N RA .U mH N R N O E E T WM T IM l A mf 0 C July 22 1952 c. HANSEN 2,604,091

FooT MAssAGER Filed March 21, 1951 2 Sl-IEETSr-Sl-IEET 2 INVENTOR CLARENCE HANSEN ATTORNEYS Patented July 22, 1952 UNIT- ED As'llrrli:

s PAT-ENT OFFICE FOOT MASSAGER Y I Clarence Hansen, Racine, Wis. Y "Application 4March 21, 1951, Serial No. 216,709

This invention appertains to an orthopedic appliance and more particularly to a device for massagingand treating the feet.

, One-of the primary objects of my inventionis the provision of a small compact machine adapted to rest onthe floor, embodying a vibrating roller over which the foot can be moved back and forth, so'that the entire foot, or selected parts thereof, can be effectively massaged and treated for the relief of tired muscles and for efficiently stimulating blood circulation and for strengthening the muscles and bone structure of the foot and toes.

Another salient object of the invention is to provide novel means for mounting the roller relative toc-the vibrator coil or magnet, so that the vibration of the roller can be controlled by the pressure of the foot thereon.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for arranging the roller relative to a foot rest formed on the machine, so. that the foot will be in proper position for the desired massage.

A further important object of vmy invention, is the provision of means whereby the roller can be quickly and conveniently removed from the machine, so that other types of massage elements can be substituted therefor.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a foot massager of the above character, which will be durable and efficient in use, one that will be simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

With' these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View through my novel foot massager, taken on the line I-I of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the'arrows.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the foot massager.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional View through the massager taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,A

looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating the mounting of the massage roller.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view, similar to Figure 3, but showing another type of massage element associated with the machine in lieu of the roller the section being taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 5, looking in the direction of the arrows.

3 Claims.` (Cl. 12S-41) I looking'in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan view showfl ing the type of massage element used -inFigvure .4. Figure 6 is va fragmentary. longitudinal sec-1 tional view taken on the line `Ii-Iiof Figure-4,

Figure 7 is a detail sectional View y the line 'l-'I of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows. Y, Y g

yReferring to vthe drawings in detail, wherein similar reference charactersdesignate, corre-v spending parts throughout the several views, the letter vM generally indicates my novel foot massaging machine and the same embodies a casing I0 preferably, but not necessarily, formed from sheet metal. Where thelcasing is formed from sheet metal, the same can be enameled, or otherf` wise treated, to enhance the appearance vand. durability thereof.A It is to bealso understood that the Icasing I0,` lcan be constructed from plastic material if such should be preferred. s illustrated, this casing `I0 includes spaced parallel side walls II and I2, 'front and rearend wallsf I3 and I4, and a top wall I5. Theside Walls II and I'2 and the front and rear walls I3 rand I4 can be provided with inturned flanges I6 to which can be secured rubber or like feet I1. Particular attention is directed to the top wall I5, and it is to be noted that the same inclines downwardly in opposite directions from a transverse line to define a sloping front foot platform I8. The top wall I5 at the transverse line, is provided with a slot I9, the purpose of which will later appear.

Mounted in the lower part of the casing I0, below the slot I9, is a vibratory coil or alternating magnet 20, and this magnet embodies a bar 2I, which extends transversely of ythe casing directly below the slot IS. The coil can be rigidly secured to the flanges I6. The terminals of the bar 2I are provided with openings in which are received guide pins 22. The guide `pins 22 are rigidly carried by a transversely extending armature bar 23, and end bearing blocks 24. These bearing blocks 24 carry a transversely extending shaft 25, on which is mounted a .massage roller 26. Expansion spring 21 are coiled about the guide pins 22, and are disposed between the bar 2l of the magnet 20 and the armature bar 23 and function to normally hold the armature bar 23, the blocks 24 and the roller 26 in a raised position with a part of the periphery thereof extending through the slot I9 above the platform I8.

Current for the magnet is supplied from any suitable outlet of an alternating lcurrent source,

aan" an' and if desired, a rheostat 28 can also be incorporated with the housing. An operating lever 29 can be provided for the rheostat and this lever can be located on an external surface of the casing I0.

In this form of my appliance, the foot is placed upon the platform I8, and is moved back and forth over the roller 26, and obviously, the foot canmbe heldr` stationary at a desired point on the roller for' treating certainlpartsi of the foot. 'The roller itself` can be constructedN from various kinds of pliable materials, such yas rubber, synthetic rubber, sponge rubber, sheepskin, wood, plastic or the like. lected for use which will be best suited for a special purpose.

By pulling up on the roller; the:same.-carr be' removed entirely from the casing, in View of the fact that the guide pins 22 are rigidly cori-- nected with bearings M; and are freely lslids215121IA inf-l the bara-IEE. down witni the f 'l tire*relier"le,` tire;- viiiraticfn1canv be' vin'- creased'f' ci 'decreased5 i vievvf of.r the springsA 21. view off the lfajctf triaittrfe: rollen andi` its associated "part'sg is freely""iemovabl,; other ciaretersjef elements be: used vvtirihyf macfiirie; aridi in Figurese 'to-17; inclu-l sive,`l2 have illustrated means by'vv'liich differ# eii'c jiiinusof' message eiementseambe empiiiyd. iliustra'teei 'If cari previa@ @transversely ex:-p Eeiidi'nfgrod at', die terriiiiiaisi qi vviiici'af. rigidly carry depending lck'si; The-blacks@ l: intuire: carry-depending guide pins 32?. Ifn'eigiu-ide pins also'- extend' througir armature bar'. which is carried by the blocks'- 3'L The guide piisarefir received tHe guide openings n-v the bar'- 'gli ofthe mag-rieten. Theroiisl can Have-detacheabiy' clamped' tieretoi any desiredE speciaif type'A of rfassfa'ge`eleii'eritf sichasthe mushroom ly-ie message ieadlsi Tiiisifiead @permise-.be made fi'f. y {variusifriaterialsand 'carifiesldpendentfref--y siiieiit 3% wniehi are adapted to snap: over A roller" isi see' 4 the rod 30. The jaws can be clamped into tight engagement with the rod by means of a bolt 36.

Much stress is laid on the arrangement of the platform i8 relative to the roller and the massage button or head 34, as the platform directs the foot over the massage elements at a desired angle.

Various changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of my invention butfWhatI l cl'aamasrrew'is:v

1; A footmassaging device comprising a casing having a top Wall provided with a transversely extending slot and an inclined platform leadinglftoward said slot, an alternating electromagnet in said casing including a bar, an armature ct'isp'osed' above said bar, blocks carried by the endslof.the:armature, depending guide pins carried by the armature and blocks slidably received in the bar, expansion springs coiled about said guide pins and interposed between the bar and the blocks.

2. A foot massagerv as defined-iinfY lgarrd said` massageelementsincluding-:a: rotatablesrnller extending*partially'thmughthesiot;

Af. foot massagerasdened; in': cl'aim l5, inf which .saiizzblcirsksJA are connectectby aitransverselyI extending-fv rod; and. said: message: element?A 'is clamped tothe rod;` CLARENCE REFERENCES CITED y vThe following references.arefof'roorddr the le of this patent: I

UNITED- STATESV' PATENTS" Number Na'r'ne- Date' 2,276,510 Newtoli i.- Mar; I7; 19:42

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